When it comes to resort hotels in Walt Disney World, The Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is the top of the line. Designed like a 1900s luxury hotel, the Grand Floridian is the premier hotel in Orlando's biggest theme park. Quiet calm and luxurious comfort are all around you when you step into the front door, and everywhere you look, little touches of special effort are displayed. For those accustomed to the good life, with every whim and desire fulfilled, the Grand Floridian will feel just like home. For the rest of us mortals, it's still got a lot to offer. There are many reasons why I would love to stay at the Grand Floridian, and the same reasons are why I won't. Confused? Here are all the details:
Mizner's Lounge
Every serious Disney fan has their absolute favorite spot in Walt Disney World. Sitting at the bar in Mizner's Lounge is mine. Whether it's Tammy or Joe behind the bar, or one of the newer staff, the service is friendly but perfectly correct. The atmosphere is quiet, candle-lit and relaxing, and the drinks are tasty and just as strong as you'd like them to be. You'll feel like a member of an insider's club from the moment you first sit down, and you'll have your favorite drink poured without asking by the second time you visit. They're just that good. The view from the second-story windows is beautiful, overlooking the lake, and the live jazz band on the balcony just outside adds to the mood in the room. Sit at the carved marble bar or relax in one of the leather easy chairs. This is one hour (or two) that you'll be glad you took time out for.
The Lobby
Walk in through the front doors of the Grand Floridian and you'll be transported back to a calmer, quieter and slower time. The hugely over-sized room is filled with an array of comfortable chairs in cozy conversation groupings, sofas with coffee tables and cushy pillows and rugs to add to the comfort level. A grand piano has pride of place in the center of the room, and musicians often play for hours at a time. Request an old classic or a Disney favorite, they'll be sure to oblige. There are rumors of many different stars stopping by and playing this piano, but the cast members will neither confirm nor deny these stories. Get a soft drink or coffee, bring a book or laptop and spend a relaxing hour or two lounging around the lobby. No one will ever bother you, except perhaps to smile if you look up when you turn the page.
The Beach at Night
During the day, the beach on the grounds of the Grand Floridian is the usual tourist madhouse: half energetic kids and half sun-drenched northerners slowly turning red. After dark, however, it's a totally different story. For at least 8 months of the year, Florida has very pleasant weather all the way until midnight and beyond. You have a moonlit beach, a private lake, comfortable lounge chairs and tables for your drinks. If you can think of a more romantic setting, you're better at this than I am. Buy a bottle of wine and grab a couple of (non-breakable) wine glasses. Take them down to the water and watch the moon's reflection shining off the waves. You'll have a wonderful private time, because it's the rare tourist that goes down to the beach after dark.
Wishes...and Other Fireworks
Wishes is the name of the perennial fireworks show that explodes over Cinderella Castle in Magic Kingdom every night. Disney World occasionally replaces Wishes with another show, and it may retire Wishes one day, but the fireworks will go on, no matter what music and choreography it has. While most people linger in Magic Kingdom to watch the show, my absolute favorite spot is across the lake from Magic Kingdom, on the grass behind Grand Floridian. Walk around the right side of the hotel toward the Seven Seas Lagoon and grab a secluded spot in the grass beside the walkway. You'll be sitting directly across the water from the castle and Magic Kingdom. As soon as it's dark, you'll see the magic.The fireworks are in full view, and the reflection off the lake makes them doubly bright and especially magical.
All of these features are reasons to stay at the Grand Floridian, but surprisingly enough, they're also reasons why I'll never stay there. Walt Disney World is accessible to everyone, no matter where you have a reservation, and every one of these fantastic experiences is available to someone walking in off the street. Drive to the resort and park, letting the guard at the gate know that you're having a drink at Mizner's. You'll be welcome for as long as you wish. Relax in the lobby, have a drink, look at the lake and watch the fireworks show. You can bask in the luxury that is the best of Disney, without dropping a fortune on expensive hotel rooms.
Mizner's Lounge
Every serious Disney fan has their absolute favorite spot in Walt Disney World. Sitting at the bar in Mizner's Lounge is mine. Whether it's Tammy or Joe behind the bar, or one of the newer staff, the service is friendly but perfectly correct. The atmosphere is quiet, candle-lit and relaxing, and the drinks are tasty and just as strong as you'd like them to be. You'll feel like a member of an insider's club from the moment you first sit down, and you'll have your favorite drink poured without asking by the second time you visit. They're just that good. The view from the second-story windows is beautiful, overlooking the lake, and the live jazz band on the balcony just outside adds to the mood in the room. Sit at the carved marble bar or relax in one of the leather easy chairs. This is one hour (or two) that you'll be glad you took time out for.
The Lobby
Walk in through the front doors of the Grand Floridian and you'll be transported back to a calmer, quieter and slower time. The hugely over-sized room is filled with an array of comfortable chairs in cozy conversation groupings, sofas with coffee tables and cushy pillows and rugs to add to the comfort level. A grand piano has pride of place in the center of the room, and musicians often play for hours at a time. Request an old classic or a Disney favorite, they'll be sure to oblige. There are rumors of many different stars stopping by and playing this piano, but the cast members will neither confirm nor deny these stories. Get a soft drink or coffee, bring a book or laptop and spend a relaxing hour or two lounging around the lobby. No one will ever bother you, except perhaps to smile if you look up when you turn the page.
The Beach at Night
During the day, the beach on the grounds of the Grand Floridian is the usual tourist madhouse: half energetic kids and half sun-drenched northerners slowly turning red. After dark, however, it's a totally different story. For at least 8 months of the year, Florida has very pleasant weather all the way until midnight and beyond. You have a moonlit beach, a private lake, comfortable lounge chairs and tables for your drinks. If you can think of a more romantic setting, you're better at this than I am. Buy a bottle of wine and grab a couple of (non-breakable) wine glasses. Take them down to the water and watch the moon's reflection shining off the waves. You'll have a wonderful private time, because it's the rare tourist that goes down to the beach after dark.
Wishes...and Other Fireworks
Wishes is the name of the perennial fireworks show that explodes over Cinderella Castle in Magic Kingdom every night. Disney World occasionally replaces Wishes with another show, and it may retire Wishes one day, but the fireworks will go on, no matter what music and choreography it has. While most people linger in Magic Kingdom to watch the show, my absolute favorite spot is across the lake from Magic Kingdom, on the grass behind Grand Floridian. Walk around the right side of the hotel toward the Seven Seas Lagoon and grab a secluded spot in the grass beside the walkway. You'll be sitting directly across the water from the castle and Magic Kingdom. As soon as it's dark, you'll see the magic.The fireworks are in full view, and the reflection off the lake makes them doubly bright and especially magical.
All of these features are reasons to stay at the Grand Floridian, but surprisingly enough, they're also reasons why I'll never stay there. Walt Disney World is accessible to everyone, no matter where you have a reservation, and every one of these fantastic experiences is available to someone walking in off the street. Drive to the resort and park, letting the guard at the gate know that you're having a drink at Mizner's. You'll be welcome for as long as you wish. Relax in the lobby, have a drink, look at the lake and watch the fireworks show. You can bask in the luxury that is the best of Disney, without dropping a fortune on expensive hotel rooms.
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